The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-01
From Harper's Weekly.
The Autumn fsiections.

:
'ss peculiar interest in the late elee.
ion. arising from . general ignorance
f the actual politicrl situation, and
here was . general unwillingness pos
lively to forecast the result. But now
hat the result is known, its signifi
ance is plain. The chiefcsnter of in
crest was New York, because its elcc
oral vote is apparently indispensable
o the election of a Republican Presi.
)ential candidate. The Republicans
conducted the campaign upon this |
.heOry. They knew that the chief
opposition to the President
was in his own State, that the Labor |
would weaken the Demo
Gratis, and thousands of anti Cleveland |
Democrats would see with equanimity |
q Democratic defeat. because it would
impair the prestige Of the Administra-
tion and weaken the chances of the
denomination. The Re-
on the other hand, under
the Blaine leadership of Mr.. Platt,
were really figktiag for the nomina-
tion Of Mr.. Blaine next year. At the
last moment the President appeared
iu personal urgency of the worst local
of his party. This action
s0ftened the party feeling against him,
and although he " As rebnked by the
fact that the vote of the candidate
whose election he personally recon.
mended fell far behind that of the
other Democratic candidates. the
Democrats carried the State by large
,y increased plurality, aud the Labor
vste shrank to a point which shows
that 1t will not hold the balance of
power next year.
York, therefore, is Of national import.
auce. 1t settles the nomination of the
President by acclxm alton and it makes
the nomination OF Mr.. Blaine extreme
ly improbable. 1t does more. It sug-
sssts the question whether q party
apparently forced 10 desert the. .candi-
date whom it undoubtedly prefers is
not a party in decadsnce. The elec
ton this year seems to show pretty
plainly that the Republican party
upon platform of high protection and
vast surplus, with its demoralizing
distribution, and with Mr.. Blaine as
its candidate. would be defeated.
There is certainly ne indication what
ever that such a platform and candi-
dacy would win from the Democrats
the State of New York or any other
State that they now hold, and sine. ap
increase of Republican votes III Re
publican States would he of no avail,
it is not easy to see how such a Repub
lican manifesto would be an earnest of
victory. The New York Trib9ne says
that within ten miles of New York
City Hall is to be found whatever
hold the solid South has upon the gov.
ernment of the country" But if
within that area the election of pext
year will be decided, Is the result OF
this year likely to be changed by a
Blaine candidacy and promise OF
high taxation ? The general result of
the election, by giving sense of
greater security to the Democratic
party, will tend to the presentation OF
a definite policy during the canning
session of Congrss. The PrezIdent's
nomination being practically assured,
intrigues and opposition will geuerally
cease, and his recommendations will
be accepted as the policy of the party
duction Of the surplus by reasonable
revision Of the toriff if Daff1ed by the
Republican Senate would not improve
Republican prospects. No party can
successfully ask for popular support
upon platform OF high taxation and
cefrapting surplus merely because
il calis it protection of A American labor
| or snsers At 1t rs u three cent burden.
The election leaves the Republican
party in very serious situation. and
1t is not improved by Republican af-
fectation of contempt for mugwumps.
In Massachusetts mugwunp favor
raised the Republican plurality by
some l2.e00, aud in the city of New
York the Republican candidate whom
the nugwuaps supported led the head
of the Republican ticket by some 20,
900 votes, and % Republican traders
generally sold ont' this candidate
the actual IL ures would be much
more significant. The largely iuereas
ed Republican plurality ia Massachu.
setts. AID be decisive and mortifyins
signiiieancs of the Fellows vote in
New York, will doubtless show to the
President that his party il weakest
when it follows the counseis of it's
mere spoiis managers. The Labor
vote aud the Increased Prohibition
vote offer no reason for doubling that
the national campaign ef next year
will be simple contest between the
tive great parties, with the chances OF
more definite policy upon both sides
than in 1884, and with the plain proof
that all forms of appeal to sectional
animosity and the cry of rebel" will
be of no use whatever in changing
essential votes. In New York the
Republican prospect, it seems to US,
can be improved in one way only, aud
that is by such wise legislation this
winter as will tend to restore the con.
fidence which has been evidently lost.
Further prosecution of the wretched
game between the Senate and the
Governor in regard to appointments,
and more Juggling temperance legisla-
ton, would ALLEVIATE still further the
support of the intelligent body OF
voters. 1t is certainly hard to see how
the chances of the Republican party in
New York are to be improved so long
ss Mr.. Platt is able to direct its policy
and dictate its nominations.
RosE's IDEA: The Presidents sis
ter places the following thorn in the
pillew Of fashion, through the medi-
um of "Dress :" Dress reform is no
l..